Clermont vs Ulster Prediction: A tough quarterfinal game than expected

Clermont Auvergne is scheduled to host Ulster in the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon. In this matchup, the hosts are considered favorites, while Ulster will enter the game as the underdogs.

Clermont secured victory against the Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup, winning 27-22 in their last 16 clash at the Stade Marcel Michelin despite a late surge. They took advantage of a lost lineout by the Cheetahs in their own half to initiate a swift attack. With impressive offloads, the ball moved swiftly through the hands, resulting in left-wing Joris Jurand scoring a try. Flyhalf Anthony Belleau successfully converted the try, giving the hosts an early 7-0 lead just two minutes into the match. Clermont now boasts a three-match winning streak at home and has only suffered one loss in their last six games. Despite a close call in their previous encounter with the Cheetahs, Clermont understands the importance of avoiding a similar situation.

The GGL Stadium hosted an electrifying match as Richie Murphy celebrated his debut win as interim head coach of Ulster. His team orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, scoring 33 unanswered points in the second half against a Montpellier side that found themselves down to 12 men at one stage. Despite trailing by ten points at halftime, courtesy of tries from Willemse and Aubin Eymeri, and facing considerable pressure in the forward battle, Ulster appeared destined for another early European exit. However, Montpellier's troubles deepened with a red card for Paul Willemse and subsequent yellow cards for Florian Verhaeghe, Vano Karkadze, and Masivesi Dakuwaqa. This presented the Irish province with the opportunity to notch five second-half tries and secure their place in the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals. Nevertheless, the final score doesn't fully convey the rollercoaster ride for Ulster, especially considering their recent streak of four consecutive losses on the road before last week's triumph.

Ulster's scoreline against Montpellier might seem impressive initially, but their success in that match relied heavily on luck, especially after a tough first half. Clermont isn't likely to offer them the same opportunities, and while we anticipate a closely contested match, we predict the hosts will come out on top. However, given Ulster's strong history in this fixture, I believe they'll rise to the challenge and may even cover the points spread in what should be a high-scoring game.